Audi Q8 e-Tron to be produced in 2017, battling Tesla Model X

January 31, 2014

According to Autobild.de, Audi is preparing to take Tesla head on in the coming years with the planned launch of the Audi Q8 e-Tron quattro. With four wheel drive and an anticipated range as high as 430 miles, the Q8 e-Tron would compete nicely with the upcoming Tesla Model X SUV. Now, Autocar Magazine has confirmed the Q8 e-Tron has been given the green light for production. Citing senior Audi sources, the British magazine says the electric vehicle will feature battery and electric motor technology from the R8 e-Tron that is set to go into production this year.

The German magazine went on to say that the Audi Q8 e-Tron will be styled similar to the A6 Avant rather than as an SUV, just as AutoBild‘s computer genereated mockup would suggest. The upcoming Q8 is a 4 door luxury coupe built on the same platform as the Q7 SUV, so the relatively high floor will allow for plenty of batteries to be stuffed underneath it. The Q7 SUV also utilizes an aluminum space-frame design to keep vehicle weight to a minimum.

The Audi Q8 e-Tron will borrow technology from its sister R8 e-Tron supercar which is said to use very powerful and torque-heavy electric motors. With an 80kWh battery pack which Audi hopes will have improved technology by then, Autocar is quoting a real world electric range of 370 miles – which is 70 miles more than the Model X.

Autobild reports a price tag of less than $130,000 for the Q8 e-Tron would be unrealistic, even though the Tesla Model X is slated to come in between $60,000 and $80,000.

Recently the R8 e-tron supercar was confirmed for production this year and in 2015 the much-awaited A3 Sportback e-tron arrives in the US with an all-electric range of approximately 31 miles.